Blame game on flawed DCs
A blame-game has ensued between public institutions over Treasury’s failure to implement recommendations by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to discipline former district commissioners (DCs) accused of misappropriating public funds.
PAC recommended to Treasury and the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), some four years ago, to take action on the controlling officers for failing to account for the funds between the financial years 2008/09 and 20011/12 financial year but, to date, nothing has come out.
In addition, while some of the accused public officers have retired most of them are still working while others have also been promoted.
Former PAC vice-chairperson Kamlepo Kalua, whose committee made the recommendations, confirmed in an interview last week that his committee left office without concluding the matter due to lack of political will.
“The matter is still under the carpet. The problem is that there is a syndicate which is making the whole issue complicated. As a nation, we have tolerated this for long as a result the country is hugely losing out,” he lamented.
Kalua, a People’s Party (PP) legislator for Rumphi East, said they first pushed the blame to President Peter Mutharika but later realised “there is an orchestrated deep-rooted corruption among controlling officers that they have become untouchables”.
“Corruption is now a way of living in the public service. These people are refusing to offer a difference. They can refuse to be brought to justice, they can do anything at anytime,” said Kalua.
On his part, PAC chairperson Ken Kandodo said his committee was “zealously following up” together with the Legal Affairs Committee for the way forward.
But Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development spokesperson Davies Sado defended the ministry, saying it was inaccurate to suggest Treasury was sweeping the issue under the carpet.
He said the issue was being handled following existing laws governing management of public finances.
“The Public Finance Management Act is clear on how to handle such issues. So, when recommendations are made, we work with the respective controlling officers of the institutions to make sure those recommendations are followed following proper administrative regulations,” said Saddo.
But Sado could not explain what the ministry had done so far on the matter.
Under Section 88 (2) of the Public Finance Management Act of 2003, it is an offence for a public officer to engage in poor record keeping pertaining to finances and risk a five-year prison term and a fine.
Section 87 (2) of the Act provides that where a controlling officer or chief executive authorises expenditure or commitment of funds in excess of approved limit or commits or expends funds where there is no appropriation permitting such… the appointing authority may suspend without pay such an officer.
On its part, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development said the matter was beyond the ministry because implementation of the Public Finance Management Act is the responsibility of Treasury.
